4th July BBQ Chicken Sliders (Print Version)

Tender BBQ chicken piled on slider buns with fresh, tangy coleslaw for perfect summer bites.

# Ingredient List:

→ BBQ Chicken

01 - 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup BBQ sauce
03 - 0.5 cup chicken broth
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Coleslaw

09 - 3 cups shredded green cabbage
10 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
11 - 1 medium carrot, grated
12 - 0.25 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - 1 teaspoon honey
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 8 slider buns
18 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Recipe Steps:

01 - Season chicken breasts with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and sear for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned.
02 - Add chicken broth and BBQ sauce to the skillet. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15-18 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and tender.
03 - Remove chicken from skillet and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the skillet, toss with sauce, and simmer uncovered for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - Add shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, and grated carrot to the dressing. Toss thoroughly to coat all vegetables evenly and set aside.
06 - Brush slider buns with melted butter. Toast in a skillet over medium heat or under the broiler until golden brown.
07 - Place a generous scoop of BBQ chicken on each bottom bun, top with a heap of coleslaw, and cover with the top bun. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • They come together faster than you'd expect, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of sweating by the grill.
  • The coleslaw adds this bright, tangy crunch that keeps the sliders from feeling heavy, even when you're eating your third one.
  • Kids and adults genuinely fight over these in a way that never happens with regular chicken sandwiches.
02 -
  • Don't skip checking that the chicken is actually cooked through—pale chicken is no fun, and it makes people nervous, even though undercooked sliders are still better than some things I've eaten.
  • The coleslaw dressing needs both sweetness and tang to work, so don't think you can just use mayo and vinegar and call it a day; the mustard and honey matter more than you'd think.
03 -
  • If your BBQ sauce is thin and watery, simmer the shredded chicken uncovered for longer so the sauce reduces and clings to the meat instead of sliding off.
  • Taste the coleslaw dressing before you add the cabbage—the mayo masks flavors, so seasoning before mixing saves you from bland slaw.
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